On August 25, 1915, Mary Pickford, along with her mother, Charlotte, Adolph Zukor, and his wife, Lottie, were special guests at the 25th annual Baby Parade in Asbury Park, NJ. While visiting, Mary reportedly also made a personal appearance at the Lyric Theatre during a screening of Rags and stopped at The Auditorium in nearby Ocean Grove for additional parade festivities. While it is no secret, various reports detailing these festivities show just how popular Mary was at the time.
The September 11, 1915 issue of Motion Picture News noted: “Mary Pickford, star of the Famous Players Film Company, who was last Wednesday extended the unusual distinction of being the Guest of Honor of the City of Asbury Park at a Silver Jubilee Baby Parade—the first actress in all the twenty-five years during which Asbury Park has annually celebrated a Baby Parade to receive this signal honor, a preference shared in past years by President Wilson, Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt and other national celebrities—was tendered the greatest ovation with which the famous seaside resort has ever welcomed a visitor.
“A significant feature of the parade was the numerous impersonations of Miss Pickford’s various creations by the children, principal among which were 'Tess of the Storm Country,' 'Hearts Adrift,' 'Such a Little Queen' and 'Mistress Nell.' [While information regarding those entries remains elusive, it is worth noting that the August 26, 1915 edition of the Newark Evening Star reported, “Ina Stevenson, daughter of Phillip Stevenson, of Kearny, won first prize in the express wagon division, dressed to represent Mary Pickford in one of her characteristic poses.” The August 29, 1915 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle also noted that NY Senator Daniel J. Carroll's son, Lawrence (8) as "The Little Devil" and daughter, Margaret (7) as the "The Good Fairy," were chosen by Mary Pickford to received the Mary Pickford Prize for their leaf and daisy-decorated float, “The Fairy's Reward to the Good Little Devil.” We can assume Mary was just a tad biased.] Another interesting aspect of the event was the fact that Miss Pickford has obtained the addresses of three of the youngsters who appeared in the parade, and in whom she detected screen possibilities. As the children in question passed the reviewing stand, the star pointed them out to Adolph Zukor, president of the Famous Players Film Company, who, with Mrs. Zukor and Miss Pickford’s mother, accompanied her to Asbury Park, and who later secured the names and addresses of the children from the carnival officials. It is planned by Mr. Zukor and Mary Pickford to give these children an early opportunity to appear with her on the screen. The fortunate youngsters selected for this unusual notice are Jean Linn Hart, of Brooklyn, who appeared in the parade in the float call 'The Barrel of Love'; Marjorie H. Conover, of Bayonne, who appeared in a revolving frame called 'The Moving Picture'; and Adele Demming, of Asbury Park [who, the August 29, 1915 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “was seated in a huge candy box entitled 'Just a Box of Sweets.” And as far as I can tell, even with Mary’s accolades, acting was not in the future of any of the children she selected, though of course I can not say conclusively.]”
Festivities concluded at the Ocean Grove Auditorium where Mary gave a little speech saying, "I want to tell you how much I've enjoyed Ocean Grove and Asbury Park. I think they are two very beautiful places and I've enjoyed being here." (The Ocean Grove Times, August 27, 1915)
It was reported in the September 15, 1915 issue of The Moving Picture World that Pathe, on behalf of Paramount, filmed the parade and the film, featuring some footage of Mary, was shown at local theatres. A series of 15 postcards commemorating the parade, some of which featuring Mary, were produced by Cole & Co. of Asbury Park. The two shown above were gifted from the Pamela Short Collection.
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| Photo taken from the September 11, 1915 issue of Motion Picture News. Courtesy MHDL. |
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| A view of the amphitheater and reviewing stand, where Mary and party were seated (under the umbrella on the left of the viewing stand,) along Kingsley Avenue between 7th and 8th Avenues--the current site of the Asbury Park Parking. The largest building in the background is the Hotel Colonial which, along with every other building shown, is no longer standing. |
